WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

2692 replies · 170,339 views
7 months ago
Sheridan hasnt played RB for a long time
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7 months ago
Did Myer Bevan get signed by anyone? Kind of thought he would be a handy pick up for us but I can’t remember last time his name got mentioned, wondering if I missed some news?
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7 months ago
YellowAndBlack
Did Myer Bevan get signed by anyone? Kind of thought he would be a handy pick up for us but I can’t remember last time his name got mentioned, wondering if I missed some news?
He's still playing for Auckland City. Currently sitting 11th equal for the Northern League Golden Boot with 7 goals (top scorer has 14) so he hasn't been all that prolific this season, but he is still Auckland City's top scorer
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Endorsed by
Ye
7 months ago
No sign of any new signing? Or waiting to see Ott, Feutz and co do Battle Royale?


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7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
What's the bet we won't get any left sided player since we aren't getting Ellis?

My guess for the extra attacker we are looking at is Obel-Hall who is a free agent still. Feutz and Ott probably committed to their Aus clubs sadly.

Obel-Hall would be a good Boon type of signing where we give him a crack after his overseas academy stint and see if he can break into the main squad/overtake Supyk (especially since Supyk has 1 year left and doesn't seem ready for regular A league game time).
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7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
Oscar Obel-Hall, a left field suggestion. Might be worth a crack what the hell. Still only 21. Kian Donkers another free agent young Kiwi, who's had some European pro experience
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Endorsed by
HuJuLT01newzealandpower
7 months ago
coochiee
Oscar Obel-Hall, a left field suggestion. Might be worth a crack what they hell. Still only 21. Kian Donkers another free agent young Kiwi, who's had some European pro experience

Kian Donkers is already well under the noses of the Aucklanders. Has been training with them on and off since he landed back in NZ.
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Endorsed by
billyspleen75JuLT01ni+1
7 months ago
coochiee
Oscar Obel-Hall, a left field suggestion. Might be worth a crack what they hell. Still only 21. Kian Donkers another free agent young Kiwi, who's had some European pro experience

Have never seen him play but a few years in Denmark you'd think would've been good for his development and standing 1.94m offers a nice differential as a bench player and as long as he's not a donkey he'd be great to bring on at the back end of games.
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Endorsed by
Ju
7 months ago
coochiee
Oscar Obel-Hall, a left field suggestion. Might be worth a crack what the hell. Still only 21. Kian Donkers another free agent young Kiwi, who's had some European pro experience
Ddefinitely think he is worth a look especially if Supyk plans on leaving (you'd think so with U20 WC this year and his rumored intetest from Stoke a while back).

Obel-Hall got first team minutes in Denmark and has two years plus a massive height/size difference on Supyk so hopefully he would be ready to make an impact even if it's just being an aerial/big guy up front which we lack severely.
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7 months ago
Just
coochiee
Oscar Obel-Hall, a left field suggestion. Might be worth a crack what the hell. Still only 21. Kian Donkers another free agent young Kiwi, who's had some European pro experience
Ddefinitely think he is worth a look especially if Supyk plans on leaving (you'd think so with U20 WC this year and his rumored intetest from Stoke a while back).

Obel-Hall got first team minutes in Denmark and has two years plus a massive height/size difference on Supyk so hopefully he would be ready to make an impact even if it's just being an aerial/big guy up front which we lack severely.

But is Obel-Hall even available?

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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7 months ago
Mainland FC
Just
coochiee
Oscar Obel-Hall, a left field suggestion. Might be worth a crack what the hell. Still only 21. Kian Donkers another free agent young Kiwi, who's had some European pro experience
Ddefinitely think he is worth a look especially if Supyk plans on leaving (you'd think so with U20 WC this year and his rumored intetest from Stoke a while back).

Obel-Hall got first team minutes in Denmark and has two years plus a massive height/size difference on Supyk so hopefully he would be ready to make an impact even if it's just being an aerial/big guy up front which we lack severely.

But is Obel-Hall even available?
Looks like he was released by Middelfart on 1 July 2025.
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7 months ago
Friar Tuck
Mainland FC
Just
coochiee
Oscar Obel-Hall, a left field suggestion. Might be worth a crack what the hell. Still only 21. Kian Donkers another free agent young Kiwi, who's had some European pro experience
Ddefinitely think he is worth a look especially if Supyk plans on leaving (you'd think so with U20 WC this year and his rumored intetest from Stoke a while back).

Obel-Hall got first team minutes in Denmark and has two years plus a massive height/size difference on Supyk so hopefully he would be ready to make an impact even if it's just being an aerial/big guy up front which we lack severely.

But is Obel-Hall even available?
Looks like he was released by Middelfart on 1 July 2025.
Not a great sign that...
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7 months ago
I know all the comms from the club have implied that any more signings will be Kiwis, but with how young this squad is I still think there's some decent Aussie pick ups on the market. I wonder if we've talked to likes of Vujica and DDS, I'd happily have both
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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Endorsed by
LT01ni
7 months ago
Still WU players who may come available especially now it looks as though the sale has fallen over.

Valley FC til I die?

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Endorsed by
anBullioncoochieeMainland FC+4
7 months ago
Nelfoos
Still WU players who may come available especially now it looks as though the sale has fallen over.
It doesn't sound like we're looking tbh
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Endorsed by
YoungHeartHM
7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
LT01
Nelfoos
Still WU players who may come available especially now it looks as though the sale has fallen over.
It doesn't sound like we're looking tbh

While the appeal against the expulsion is going on I'd imagine noone will be announcing "we are looking at x.y.z from WU"
it would be pretty bad form and very destabilising for the players - who are no doubt already pretty worried.
But, I'd be pretty sure if there were any we were interested in there would be stuff happening behind closed doors.

besides who from this squad would we want?

image.png 416.04 KB

Ibuski (V), Imai and maybe Grimaldi and Kaddour as midfield and defensive cover.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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Endorsed by
Mainland FCThe Spelling Referee
7 months ago
Well, if we notice John Aloisi on TradeMe bidding on a second hand TV set in Wellington...

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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Endorsed by
kwlapMoUnWanderingSheep
7 months ago
Top Seven plus bozza and covney would add something to our squad. 
Kurchaski is someone i was silently hoping we could pinch of Sydney..
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7 months ago
Jamdogg
Top Seven plus bozza and covney would add something to our squad. 
Kurchaski is someone i was silently hoping we could pinch of Sydney..
Kucharski is at Perth now. Dylan Leonard would be my pick, very impressed with him at his age. IMHO, would be a step up on left sided players in our squad.
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Endorsed by
ni
7 months ago
I'd take any of Garuccio, Leonard, Pasquali and Bozinovski 
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Endorsed by
kwlapni
7 months ago
Yes to Ibusuki and would love Thurgate!! 

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Endorsed by
newzealandpowerni
7 months ago
Thurgate all day.
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Endorsed by
Buffon IIFriar TuckLGMo+4
7 months ago
theprof
LT01
Nelfoos
Still WU players who may come available especially now it looks as though the sale has fallen over.
It doesn't sound like we're looking tbh

While the appeal against the expulsion is going on I'd imagine noone will be announcing "we are looking at x.y.z from WU"
it would be pretty bad form and very destabilising for the players - who are no doubt already pretty worried.
But, I'd be pretty sure if there were any we were interested in there would be stuff happening behind closed doors.

besides who from this squad would we want?

image.png 416.04 KB

Ibuski (V), Imai and maybe Grimaldi and Kaddour as midfield and defensive cover.

Every single one of those players would improve our squad in some way. I’d happily take any of the midfielders, Garuccio (left back sorely needed), Sutton, Coveny, Walatee and Lavale.
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Endorsed by
MoniWanderingSheep
7 months ago
Hate to be a realist we can want all we like sadly as i think the club is finding out its convincing the player to want to come that counts. Unlike others im not convinced just offering money is enough to convince them.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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Endorsed by
DolorasJuProcrastinixingtheprof
7 months ago
Literally every single season before now we managed to bring in players with far better CVs than we have this season. Why is it all of a sudden impossible now? 
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7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
Friar Tuck
theprof
LT01
Nelfoos
Still WU players who may come available especially now it looks as though the sale has fallen over.
It doesn't sound like we're looking tbh

While the appeal against the expulsion is going on I'd imagine noone will be announcing "we are looking at x.y.z from WU"
it would be pretty bad form and very destabilising for the players - who are no doubt already pretty worried.
But, I'd be pretty sure if there were any we were interested in there would be stuff happening behind closed doors.

besides who from this squad would we want?

image.png 416.04 KB

Ibuski (V), Imai and maybe Grimaldi and Kaddour as midfield and defensive cover.

Every single one of those players would improve our squad in some way. I’d happily take any of the midfielders, Garuccio (left back sorely needed), Sutton, Coveny, Walatee and Lavale.
can't get any more visa players. Garuccio is a bit washed up, Leonard has future Socceroo about him and was just named 71st in top 200 young talents world wide. 

Edit: I see he also/mainly plays cb though the WU games I watched last season he was LB
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7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
imanixsupporter
Literally every single season before now we managed to bring in players with far better CVs than we have this season. Why is it all of a sudden impossible now? 

Ain't nuclear physics. The APL annual disbursement per club has gone from over $3M a few years ago, to now $550K.

I went to the Roar v Mariners pre season game on the weekend in a busy rush, with no pre game research. But once there I didn't recognise one visa player in either team.

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Endorsed by
Dolorasqueenofthequailtheprof
7 months ago
Yes, so it likely comes down to money and not intangible "convincing"
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7 months ago
Bullion
Friar Tuck
theprof
LT01
Nelfoos
Still WU players who may come available especially now it looks as though the sale has fallen over.
It doesn't sound like we're looking tbh

While the appeal against the expulsion is going on I'd imagine noone will be announcing "we are looking at x.y.z from WU"
it would be pretty bad form and very destabilising for the players - who are no doubt already pretty worried.
But, I'd be pretty sure if there were any we were interested in there would be stuff happening behind closed doors.

besides who from this squad would we want?

image.png 416.04 KB

Ibuski (V), Imai and maybe Grimaldi and Kaddour as midfield and defensive cover.

Every single one of those players would improve our squad in some way. I’d happily take any of the midfielders, Garuccio (left back sorely needed), Sutton, Coveny, Walatee and Lavale.
can't get any more visa players. Garuccio is a bit washed up, Leonard has future Socceroo about him and was just named 71st in top 200 young talents world wide. 

Edit: I see he also/mainly plays cb though the WU games I watched last season he was LB

Have you seen our squad? Garuccio is better than our current options. Most of these WU players would be of value to our squad. Walatee is a livewire and Grimaldi had a very good season last year
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Endorsed by
ni
7 months ago
You would take anyone of the above with a photo

Auckland will rise once more

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Endorsed by
Buffon IILT01MoSamCoughlan+2
7 months ago
For sure but IIRC he is still only 17, will have plenty of interest, and may not want to leave home, let alone Australia.

Speaking of young player management, Leonard played the full 90 for much of the last season, even as a 16 yr old, IIRC.
No talk of managing minutes, as this forum and perhaps Italiano are for LBS.
Good enough is old enough; many other examples at all levels.
Bullion
Jamdogg
Top Seven plus bozza and covney would add something to our squad. 
Kurchaski is someone i was silently hoping we could pinch of Sydney..
Kucharski is at Perth now. Dylan Leonard would be my pick, very impressed with him at his age. IMHO, would be a step up on left sided players in our squad.
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Endorsed by
Gooner 4 LifeMarto
7 months ago · edited 7 months ago · History
imanixsupporter
Yes, so it likely comes down to money and not intangible "convincing"

True, which is why we rarely if ever win a bidding war for an A League player against other clubs, on money alone.  There usually have to be other reasons someone signs on with us from another ALM club.
Sometimes they have fallen out of favour or have not progressed (Sotirio)
Sometimes they come for the coach (like, ex MV players coming here when Ernie Merrick was in charge).  
Sometimes they come here because of an injury break in their career which makes them less attractive to other clubs but we are open to taking them on (and later on they move to AUS based clubs after they have played a good season with us and show they recovered).

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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Endorsed by
Jutheprof
7 months ago
I'd take Mata 👀
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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Endorsed by
Siwolfman
7 months ago
Our boy Chico has just signed for a Brasil Ligue 2 club. So i guess he must have passed a medical test.
If fit i would have him back at the Nix. Exactly the sort if play maker we need.
I wish him all the best....div 2 Brazil is a decent level
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Endorsed by
Gooner 4 LifeKiwiMancunianLGLT01+6
7 months ago
Max Mata should be a target after being released by Shrewsbury. Difficult to see who's going to score a decent enough amount of goals if Eze doesn't perform. 
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Endorsed by
LT01
7 months ago
Given our injury troubles last season really surprised to see people wanting us to sign someone coming back from a serious hamstring injury. They can be sharks of things if you try and come back to early.
As much as he may be of use just wonder if its worth the risk.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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Endorsed by
LG
7 months ago
especially when his scoring record for AFC isnt flash, 2 goals in 19. 4 in 14 for Sligo.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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Endorsed by
KiwiMancunianni